Woman who smoked from hole in throat in anti-smoking ad dies

In this Dec. 20, 2010 file photo, tobacco educator Debi Austin comments on the negative effects of tobacco during a news conference in Los Angeles. Austin, a woman who smoked a cigarette through a hole in her throat to illustrate her struggle of nicotine addiction in a California public service advertisement, has died after a long struggle with cancer, health officials and her family said Wednesday Feb. 27, 2013. / AP

LOS ANGELESA woman who smoked a cigarette through a hole in her throat to illustrate her struggle with nicotine addiction in a California public service advertisement has died of cancer, health officials and her family said Wednesday.

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Debi Austin died Feb. 22 at Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys, according to family friend and spokesman Jim Walker. She was 62.

Austin first appeared on television in 1996, telling viewers she began smoking at age 13 and could never quit. In a quiet, halting rasp, Austin told the camera, "They say nicotine isn't addictive," before inhaling from a lit cigarette held to a hole in her throat.

"How can they say that?" Austin asked viewers, as cigarette smoke wafted from the hole.

Called a stoma, the hole in her throat allowed her to breathe after her larynx was removed at age 42.

The TV spot was "the most-recognized and talked about California tobacco control ad," according to the state health department.

"Debi was a pioneer in the fight against tobacco and showed tremendous courage by sharing her story to educate Californians on the dangers of smoking," said Dr. Ron Chapman, who heads the health department. "She was an inspiration for Californians to quit smoking and also influenced countless others not to start."

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Four months after the ad, Austin quit smoking - halting a two- to three-pack-a-day habit. She fought various forms of cancer for the rest of her life. She starred in other ads and spent the rest of her life advocating against the use of tobacco.

"True to Debi's spirit, she was a fighter to the end and leaves a big hole in our hearts and lives. Debi will be remembered fondly by those who love her to be caring, courageous, very funny and always there to offer advice or lend a hand," the family's statement said.

Here is Austin's memorable ad:

[magnumdr]

Every person that lives here in the USA has their own personal choices. It is not up to anyone else to choose what any person will do. The day we let others, including our Government control what we choose to do is the day we all are starting to loose our personal choices in our personal lives. Live and let live. My Mom was dieing from cancer and whenever she wanted a cigarette we gave one to her. Why not, She was going to die anyways?. At least we made her happy!

[realtimecoffee]

Mz Austin and I are roughly the same age. We both started smoking at a time when it was clear that smoking was terrible for our health. We just didn't care. Who does as a teenager? I didn't consume as much as she did but by my 20s I was the typical pack a day guy. Over time I realized I wasn't really enjoying it anymore, I just NEEDED it. I started whittling back, a little less, slowly. Finally 2 or 3 years later I threw away that three week old half full pack that I didn't want anymore. My smoking was my own fault. I didn't start because of some cigarette ad, I started because a friend shook one out of his pack one day and casually offered it to me. Taking it was my choice. Sometimes choices bite you. I was lucky.
RIP Debi.

[jtdev1]

A 2-3 pack a day habit? That's like drinking 2-3 cases of beer a day and complaining that your liver is shot.

Smoking is bad for you, but doing anything to that extreme will kill you.